Effect of different nitrogen levels on growth, yield and quality of two broccoli cultivars (Brassica oleraceae var. italica)

Abstract

This research was conducted during the growing season of 2010-2011 at Bakrajo farm, faculty of agricultural sciences, University of Sulaimani to study the effect of 5 levels of nitrogen (0 , 80 , 160 , 240 and 320 kg N/ ha), two cultivars of broccoli (Corvet-F1 and Hydra-F1) and their interaction on growth, yield and quality of broccoli. The results indicated that addition of nitrogen have significance effect to certain level on yield and most of growth parameters, and high total yield (13.30 ton/ha) and most yield characteristics obtained from (80kg N/ha),while the high levels of nitrogen application especially (320 kg N/ha) caused to decrease the yield to 9.42 ton/ ha). Hydra-F1 cultivar was significantly superior in head width (11.87 cm),weight of lateral head (252.6 g) and head dry weight%(13.0%).The best treatment combination was (160 kg N/ ha * Hydra-F1) which the higher weight of lateral heads, plant yield and total yield was obtained. The best value of head dry weight and protein % was obtained from treatment combination (0 kg N/ha * Hydra-F1) and (320 kg N/ ha * Corvet-F1), respectively